Richard Roman and Richard Ridealgh, two expats living in Changchun, capital city of Northeast China’s Jilin province, have set up an online forum "Changchun Friends"(richardroman.ning.com) to provide information for foreigners in Changchun.

Established in 2005, the online forum has attracted over 1,200 active users who share and post classifieds, events and directories about Changchun.

Changchun Friends is more than an online forum, later developing a print version and holding a series of off-line events and activities.

Richard Romain (left) and Richard Ridealgh show their latest print version of Chang Chuner, a Changchun Friends affiliated English magazine. [Photo/Qiu Zhaomin]

"We have held all sorts of events like Christmas parties, speech contests and filmmaking contests for expats and young local people,” the two Richards said. “We also got friends from Shenyang and Harbin to join us."

The two Richards came to Changchun because of work, but they soon began to develop their personal bond to the land.

Richard Roman, one of the co-founders of Changchun Friends, said, "I’ll stay as long as I can, because here I’ve got the work I enjoy, people I love, particularly my girlfriend, and Jilin cuisine I like."

He also added, "The most import thing for me is that I’ve got Chang Chuner to handle."

He got to know Richard Ridealgh, head of a local school, who also expressed pretty much the same view.

 "I've married a Changchun woman, adapted to the chilly weather, and my stomach is bearable to Chinese liquor."

The online forum, designed to provide local information for Changchun expats, has now expanded its vision to make more people from home and abroad to better understand the world.

Richard Ridealgh works at his Chang Chuner editorial office.[Photo/Qiu Zhaomin]

"I’ve helped expats in Changchun to better understand local culture,” Richard Roman said. “Now my mission is to help people from different cultural backgrounds understand each other better."

He went on to say, "We’ve got the third Richard, a Liverpool native, who introduced his home town and the renowned band, The Beatles, to our friends from different countries a few days ago."

Changchun Friends has now opened a WeChat account for more instant updates and events.